Phonograph sound-chamber or horn.



F. C. LYON.

PHONOGRAPH SOUND CHAMBER 0R HORN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 6, 1918.

Patented Mar. 4,1919L FRED G. LYON, OF'FAYETTE, OHIO.

PHONOGRAPH SOUND-CHAMBER 0R HORN.

Application filed March 6, 1918.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED C. LYON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Fayette, in the county of Fulton and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Phonograph Sound-Chamber or Horn; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to sounding boxes or horns for phonographs and similar inventions, and has for its object the provision of an improved device of this character which will produce amplified, solid and distinct tones of full volume, give character and expression thereto, and at the same time prevent or reduce to a minimum the vibration and consequent singing or rattling of different adjacent articles when different notes in tune with the articles are sounded. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

While the invention, in its broader aspect, is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a cabinet with my improved horn associated therewith. Fig. 2 is an enlarged outer end view of the horn. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the horn, with a part in central longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the horn with its carrying block partly broken away, and Fig. 5 is an inner end elevation of the horn.

Referringto the drawings, 1 designates the upper portion of a phonograph cabinet and 2 the chamber thereof in which thecustomary sound amplifying means is disposed.

The sound amplifying means in which my invention resides, in its present embodiment,

comprises a horn having the crooked neck portion 3 and the flaring or outwardly enlarging outer end or body portion 4. The neck 3 has a block 5, preferably, but not necessarily, of wood, clamped or otherwise suitably firmly secured to its inner end, and

this is intended to be bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the under side of the top Specification of Letters Patent.

' graphs.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.. Serial No. 220,747.

wall of the chamber 2, with the neck channel in register with the customary opening (not shown) provided in said top wall and with which the channel through the swinging sound conducting arm 6 registers.

The neck 3 extends downward and slightly rearward, thence curves forward and upward and then forward in substantially inverted goose-neck form, with the cross-sectional contour of the neck rather abruptly changing at its inner end from circular to square form and then maintaining a rectangular form throughout the remainder of its length, with the rectangular form gradually broadening in one dimension and very slightly narrowing from one end to the other in its other dimension, as illustrated. The body portion 4 of the horn extends forward from and forms a continuation of the neck 3 in flared form and preferably continues the rectangular cross-sectional formation of the neck, with the top and bottom portions 7 and 8 thereof forming what may be termed broadened sounding boards. In mounting the horn within the cabinet chamber 2 care should be taken that it be firmly suspended from the top wall of said chamber and be free from contact with the chamber at all points except its inner end, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

It is found in practice that the formation of the neck of the horn in substantially the goose-neck form shown makes the transmitted notes heavier and gives them fullness and volume, while the flaring body portion of the horn rounds off and amplifies the tones so that the resultant tones are practically an exact reproduction of the original vocal or instrumental tones and devoid of the scratching and mechanical features so common and objectionable in phono- A plurality of vibrator tongues 9 are disposed within the inner end portion of the flaring part 4 of the horn or adjacent thereto and, in the present instance, are arranged in two rows or sets with the tongues or members of one set fixed at one end to and projecting up from the bottom wall 8 of the horn and alternating with those of the other set which are fixed to and project downward from the top wall 7 of the horn, as illustrated. These sets extend from one side to the other of the horn and referably broaden from their inner ends dow ilward. A wire 10 extends forward from each tongue of a set for varying distances and is fixedat its outer end by solder, or in any other suitable manner, to the sound board or wall 7 or 8 of the horn, from which, in the present instance, the respective tongues project. In the present arrangement the wire of the center tongue of each set is the longest and the other wires gradually shorten outward n both directions from the center wire. It is found in practice that the use of these vibrator tongues and wires very materially enhance the tone qualities and prevent the rattling and vibration of different adjacent loose parts which may be produced wlth particular notes. The wires are made of different lengths to adapt them to pick up the sound vibrations of different notes, such as might be occasioned by different instruments. The provision of the tongues and wires tends to produce clear and distinct notes.

Clamping strips or bars 11, 11, preferably but not necessarily of wood, are clamped firmly to the horn adjacent to the outer end of the neck part 3 by bolts 12, or in any other suitable manner, and are found to materially enhance the volume of the tones, making them more solid and distinct.

Another feature of my invention, which is found to add materially to the quality of the tones produced, especially those of a harsh or base nature, consists in providing the,

horn 4 at, or adjacent to 1ts outer end, with an inwardly extending flange 13, which has a damming action on the outward passage of the tones from the horn. The addition of this feature makes a very marked difference in the quality and clearance of the tones produced and a difference is also noted in varying the size of the opening through the flange.

Each of the features above described, namely, the form ofneck shown, the provision of the vibrator tongues and wires within the horn, the provision of the clamping strips 11, and the restricting flange 13, has been used separately from the other features and it is found that each materially adds to the value of the tone produced, and that a horn bodying all of these features is exceptioi ally valuable in producing tones hav-' ing volume and fullness and which are clear 7 and distinct in character.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific material construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as. it is capable of numerous modifications without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lette'rsiPatent, is

1 A phonograph horn .havinga series of tongues each. affixed, at one end to the horn interior so as to partake of all .of the horn vibrations' and having the opposite end aeaeio thereof free so a to be capable of vibrating independent of the horn vibrations, said tongues being formed so as to constitute a continuation of the horn considered as a diaphragm.

2. In combination with a phonograph horn, means to mount the horn to allow same to vibrate, a series of tongues arranged interiorly of the horn, and means to mount the tongues so as to allow same to vibrate in one direction independent of the horn vibrations, said tongues being formed so as to constitute a continuation of the horn considered as a diaphragm.

3. In combination with a phonograph horn, a series of tongues fixed at one end and having their opposite ends free and arranged transversely and interiorly of the horn and covering substantially the effective area of the throat thereof.

4. In combination with a phonograph horn, aseries of tongues extending across and covering substantially the effective area of the throat of the horn.

5. In combination with a phonograph horn, a series of spaced tongues afiixed at one end to a wall of the horn and extending across the throat thereof, and a second series of tongues aflixed to the wall of the horn opposite to the first named wall and arranged in the space between the tongues of the first named series.

6. In combination with a phonograph horn, a series of tongues atiixed at one end to the horn on the interior thereof and having their opposite ends free, and bracing means for each tongue disposed between a wall of the horn and engaged with the tongues at points between the ends of the latter.

7 In combination with a phonograph born, a series of tongues afiixed at one end to the horn on the interior thereof and having their opposite ends free, and a bracing rod for each tongue aflixed at one end to a wall of the horn and at its opposite end to the tongue at a point between the ends of the latter.

8. In combination with a phonograph horn, a tongue affixed at one end to'the horn on the interior thereof and having its opposite end free, and bracing means for the tongue. I

9. A phonograph horn having two series of opposed tongues, the tongues of one series being secured at one end to a wall ofthe horn and the tongues of the other series being secured at their, ends to the opposite wall of the horn and arranged in alternatingrelation to the tongues of the first seriesj 10.A phonograph horn having a neck and albody secured to tlie'neck, a. series of tongues. within the body "disposed adjacent the point Oreonneetim of the body to the one end so as to leave the opposite ends thereof free and capable of vibration.

1l. In combination with a phonograph horn, a series of tongues aifixed at one end to the horn on the interior thereof and hav ing their opposite ends free, and bracing means for each tongue disposed between a wall of the horn and the tongue and engaging the latter at a point between the tongue ends, the bracing means of the respective tongues being of varying lengths.

12. In combination with a phonograph horn, a series of tongues afiixed at one end to the horn on the interior thereof and having their opposite ends free, and a bracing rod for each tongue aflixed at one end to a wall of the horn and at its opposite end to the tongue at a point between the ends of the latter, the rods of the respective tongues being of varying lengths.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

FRED O. LYON.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

